New Jersey Grandparents' Rights Attorney

What Factors Determine Grandparent Visitation in New Jersey?

N.J.S.A. 9:2-7.1 governs grandparent visitation rights under New Jersey law. The statute also covers sibling visitation rights. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the issue of grandparent visitation rights in the 2000 case of Troxel v. Granville 530 U.S. 57. Since that time, state legislatures have adopted a series of measures to codify the visitation and custody rights of grandparents, including recent legal measures in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Texas.

Factors New Jersey family law court may consider in determining grandparent visitation include: 

• Grandparent’s relationship with child.
• Grandparent’s relationship with child’s parents.
• Amount of contact.
• Affects on parental custody rights.
• Abuse and child welfare history.
• Good faith of applicant.
• Best interest of the child.

Legal Help for New Jersey Grandparents

Our NJ grandparents' rights attorneys know establishing your visitation rights at the outset can best secure long-term relationships with your grandchildren. As we see by the factors a court considers in determining visitation rights, your current relationship with a child is of significant importance. 

In cases where relationships with a child’s parents are less than ideal, maintaining your relationship with a child may require court intervention and failing to act may undermine your position with the court.

Determining Grandparent Visitation in New Jersey

The factors the court considers in determining grandparent visitation rights also make clear that allowing emotions to overflow when dealing with a grandchild’s parent can be detrimental to your case in court.

Even if you maintain a good relationship with a child’s parents, things change. People move away, and/or develop new relationships. Formalizing your visitation rights should be looked at as just another step in the divorce or child-custody process. An experienced Somerset family law firm can help you secure your long-term relationship with your grandchildren, while keeping everyone’s emotions in better balance.

Our New Jersey Grandparents' Rights Attorneys Can Help

Our grandparents' rights attorneys in New Jersey can help you file for custody if there are extenuating circumstances – such as the parents are unfit, there is abuse or neglect of children, alcohol or substance abuse, or criminal conduct. We work closely with our clients and provide personalized attention that is focused on the best interest of our clients and their family.

To learn more about your rights as a grandparent, contact us at (732) 810-0034 and set up your free consultation with our New Jersey grandparents' rights lawyer!